Side effects and cautions

Direct vasodilators are strong medications that generally are used only when other medications haven't controlled blood pressure adequately.

These medications have a number of side effects, some of which require taking other medications to treat.

Side effects include:

• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Heart palpitations
• Fluid retention (edema)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Excessive hair growth
• Joint pain
• Chest pain